Last week, during one of their shore patrols, Reserve officers Chris and Ashley spotted a troubled sea turtle. As members of the grounding network for Saint Martin, they launched a rescue operation.
Observations made, it was an individual of a species rarely observed in our waters: an olive ridley turtle (L. olivacea).
Usually frequenting the waters of French Guiana and the Indian and Pacific oceans, rare individuals are observed in the French West Indies and more generally in poor health. It is therefore a first for Saint-Martin!
The individual was returned to the water after being examined. He had a lot of weight loss and his two front legs had been cut for a long time (total healing of wounds).
Hopefully this stopover in Saint-Martin will allow him to regain strength to continue his journey!
(Source Saint-Martin Nature Reserve)
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